diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index 364db70..27f0c66 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ static char *fontfallbacks[] = {
 #define NUMFONTSCALES 30
 #define FONTSZ(x) ((int)(10.0 * powf(1.1288, (x)))) /* x in [0, NUMFONTSCALES-1] */
 
+static const char *fgcol = "#000000";
+static const char *bgcol = "#FFFFFF";
+
 /* how much screen estate is to be used at max for the content */
 static float usablewidth = 0.75;
 static float usableheight = 0.75;
diff --git a/sent.c b/sent.c
index 2754eb0..74412ba 100644
--- a/sent.c
+++ b/sent.c
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ void xinit()
 
 	if (!(d = drw_create(xw.dpy, xw.scr, xw.win, xw.w, xw.h)))
 		die("Can't create drawing context.");
-	sc = drw_scm_create(d, "#000000", "#FFFFFF");
+	sc = drw_scm_create(d, fgcol, bgcol);
 	drw_setscheme(d, sc);
 
 	xloadfonts();